The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-10-14

say ave." unanimous aye was the response.
Mr.. Train was to have delivered lecture at
West Twelfth street, Turner Hall, to-
night, but the en- gagement was cancelled
prevent any such lecture. and Mr. Train
left for Springfield TO fill the
first of series of lectures in the
West. Before leaving he had number of let
tiers printed. addressed to Devine, the chief of
police and Mayor Roche. which were read in the
saloon under the Turner Hall to number of
people who had assembled to hear the lecture.
Checkered Career of a Picturesque Man.
Chicago Herald.
George Francis Train, or Citizen Train, as he
now calls himself, is one of the most pictur-
esque characters in America, and withal one OF
the most harmless of Osteneibly he
comes to Chicago to boom the amnesty move
ment in favor of the condemned Anarchists, but
anybody who may attend bis lectures will hear
more about G. F. T. than about Spies Parsons,
ct al. His public career. extending over half a
century, is crowded with interesting events
many of them national and international in
their importance. He was bern in 1929 in Bos-
ton, where his father. Oliver E. Train.
successful merchant of considerable fortune.
His grandfather was Rev. George Pickering,
who became famous in the first quarter of this
century for emanclpating his slaves and declin-
ing a MetnodlSG DlSnoprlc AG the age OF TOUR
years Train was taken to New Orleans. oy his
father. who went to the Crescent City to engage
in business, but he had not been there long be-
fore yellow fever attacked the city. Trains
mother and three sisters the first
who succumbed to the scourge, and Train him
self was only saved from it by his fathers
prompt action in sending him to Boston in
charge of the captain of clipper ship that de-
parted from New Orleans. When young Train
reached his native city he was informed of his
fathers death, which occurred within week
after his own departure from New Orleans.
After long career at academies and colleges
young Train entered a mercantile Office at Cam
bridgeport clerk. and he remained thore
two years, when, growing dissatisfied, he went
to Boston and entered the employ of Enoch
Train q Co.. His marked ability soon became
obvious to the members of the firm, and his ad-
vancement was rapid that in 1853 he was sent
to London and Liverpool as the English CORE
spondent and manager of the house la 1851
he married in louisville and he made
considerable tour of tho country with his bride,
and two years later he went to Australia, where
he founded a mercantile house that afterward
became famous. It established connections
with all the famous merchants of Europe and
America. and besides the agent of the cele-
brated White Star Line of clipper ships that
of Liverpool. During his residence in
Australia he of the central figures
Of the revolution and the republic, and he was
rendered the presidency of that ephemeral gov
eminent but declined it. Shortly after that he
became famous for his letters from Asia, Africa
and Australia. During second residence in
Europe be completely revolutonized the bust
ness methods of the entire world by establishing
a prepaid passenger business and Introducing
small bills of exchange Then he conceived the
idea of building street railways in London and
Liverpool. or tramway lines. Englishmen per-
sist in calling them. The English public didn't
want the improvement The English pubic
fought Mr.. Trains scheme with an ardor that
was nearly the death OF it, but he was so
persistent that he was at last successful
Another great financial ENTERPRISE he
Unanswered the sale Of the bonds of the At
lantic & Great Western railway, and he con-
Quoted it so successfully that he at once jumped
into the front rank of fnanclers of the world.
During the days before the war. when the
slavery question was under discussion. Train
was frequently on the lecture platform in favor
of abolition. His trial in 1862 for manslauehter,
his agitation of the Union Pacific railway
scheme. He advocated the construction of
road with its eastern terminus
at Omaha, and his advocacy was conducted with
The celebrated Credit Mobilier was another Of
his conceptions. and he was the central figure of
it throughout
In 1869 he began his now historic campaign
for the presidency and during the three years
he delivered hundreds of lectures all
over the country. He made the last speech of
his campaign in 1872 in Wall street to an
mense throng of people, and when the meeting
was over no made public defense of Clafiin and
w OO0huli, VINO were conspicuous at tnaC Ilmo
For their adv ocacy Of free-ove doctrines There
was much in his speech that the police
'idered obscene and otherwise reprehe nsible that
they arrested MIN and locked him up in the
Tombs. Although many offers of bail were made
he declined to accept anything but an immediate
rial. He even refused liberty on his own re-
,ognizance. His peculiar actions and speech at
racted widespread attention among medical
men, and there was so much said about his
mind being unbalanced that it was determined
10 examine him to ascertain if he really sane
The examination resulted in inquiry of lu-
lacy before Judge Noah Davis. When tho tes-
lmony of the N edcal experts who had exam
ned Train all in Judge Davis ordered the
lid without leaving the courtroom. An appeal
vas taken, and May 80. 1873. before Judge
Fancher, Train was discharged sane, and on
he next dav he started for Germany. W here he
oon got into Jail for some public utterauces
Then he came back to the United States again |
n I'd took up the cause of the workingman. which |
,e advocated until 1877. wbe en- he determined to |
hold no further intercourse with man. He re- |
Owed to treat only with women and children |
aud he has kept that VOW, as far as |
up to the present time. After his |
rial for lunacy Train made many excursions to |
europe. and he was successful according to his |
all in every European country. just before |
he last monarchy in France fell before public I
Indignation, Train made reasonable speech |
rom the balcony of hotel in Toulon. ana a /
a-ty of police agents who heard him undertook |
0 arrest him. Train saw them coming. and |
rawing a siIken fag-the stars and stripes
rom beneath his coat he wrapped II around his
erson and defied the officers. They hesltated
nd he renewed his defiance by continuing his